When purchasing jewelry from a gold store, many buyers feel reassured if they see the 916 marking. However, relying solely on this number is not enough to buy gold. According to BIS data, jewelry with a hallmark must have not only an indication of purity but also the BIS logo and a six-digit HUID.
What does 916 mean? This marking indicates gold with a purity of about 91.6 percent. According to BIS, the purity of 22-karat gold is 916. Furthermore, the purity for 18-karat gold is set at 750, and for 14-karat gold, it is 585. Thus, if an item states 22K 916, it informs about its karats and purity.
When buying hallmarked gold items, you should not only look at the purity number. According to BIS, a modern hallmark includes three mandatory signs: the BIS logo, the karat/purity, and the six-digit HUID. Therefore, when purchasing, you should carefully examine all three elements.
HUID, or Unique Identification Number of the Hallmark, is unique to each hallmarked item. BIS states that this is an alphanumeric code of six digits. Before making a purchase, the customer can verify this information using the 'Verify HUID' function in the BIS Care application.
The receipt should not be neglected. According to BIS, the receipt for hallmarked items must contain a description of the item, the net weight of the precious metal, the karat and purity, as well as the stamping fee. Therefore, after purchase, it is essential to receive the receipt and check the information stated in it against the item itself.
If the item is adorned with diamonds, pearls, or other stones, the total weight and the net weight of the gold may differ. Therefore, you should ask the seller what the exact net weight of the gold indicated on the receipt is. The BIS consumer guide also emphasizes the necessity of stating the net weight of the precious metal on the receipt.
If you are purchasing matching items, such as earrings, you should not limit checking the hallmark to only one piece. According to BIS, information about the hallmark and purity must be indicated on every element of the pair. Similarly, the hallmarks on removable parts must be checked.
If necessary, you can have the gold tested. If you doubt the purity of the item, you can contact an accredited BIS valuation and hallmarking center to have the item or a sample tested. BIS reports that the consumer can undergo a test by paying a set fee and will receive a testing report.
Do not buy based only on 916. That is, simply seeing 916 is not enough when buying gold. You must also check for the presence of the BIS logo, purity/karat, HUID, net weight, and the receipt. The HUID can be verified through the BIS Care application. The most important thing is that if the purity of the hallmarked item turns out to be lower than stated, the consumer has the right to compensation in accordance with BIS rules.